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Global Commuter
Comparison

For millions of drivers around the world, commuting by car is a regular part of the working day. Sometimes it's a quiet moment of calm; other times it's a necessary hassle, and often it's a mix of both. Depending on where you live, the drive to work might be a quick trip or a long daily routine that shapes how your day begins and ends.

While traffic and distance are hard to change, the car you're commuting in can still shape how the journey feels, from comfort and fuel costs to the tech you rely on day to day. That's why some drivers look at switching cars when their commute starts to feel like a grind, whether that means upgrading for better efficiency, improved connectivity, or a calmer driving experience. If you're weighing up a change, selling your car can be the first step in understanding what your current model is worth and what you could move to next.

To better understand how commuting experiences vary around the world, we surveyed drivers in 16 countries. We looked at how much time drivers spend in their cars over a full working year, and where commuting feels most and least stressful.

We asked car commuters how many minutes they spend driving each working day (including the return trip) and calculated how that adds up over a full year. We also explored how they feel during their commute, whether it's relaxing, stressful, or somewhere in between, what they enjoy most about it, and whether a newer car might make the journey more enjoyable.

World map of commuting times

The World's Longest Commutes

Rank Country Days Spent Commuting Each Year
(days, hours, minutes)
#1 South Africa 10d 4h 48m
#2 India 10d 1h 55m
#3 Ireland 9d 14h 10m
#4 Greece 9d 4h 48m
#5 Poland 8d 21h 36m
#6 Netherlands 8d 19h 26m
#7 Italy 8d 16h 48m
#8 New Zealand 8d 16h 34m
#9 Germany 8d 9h 36m
#10 Canada 8d 0h 29m
#11 Australia 7d 17h 46m
#12 USA 7d 17h 31m
#13 France 7d 11h 2m
#14 UK 7d 2h 24m
#15 Spain 6d 18h 43m
#16 Portugal 6d 11h 46m
#17 Mexico 6d 2h 10m

#1 South Africa - 10d 4h 48m

Drivers in South Africa spend more time commuting by car than anywhere else, averaging more than 10 full days a year. In and around Johannesburg and Pretoria, long distances and heavily used routes like the N1 and N3 are part of daily travel for many commuters. In Cape Town, regular congestion on the N2 adds to journey times, adding significantly to the annual total.

#2 India - 10d 1h 55m

India follows closely behind, with car commuters also spending more than 10 days a year on the road. In major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, traffic levels can be intense, with routes like the Western Express Highway and the Outer Ring Road often moving slowly. When delays are part of everyday driving, even relatively short trips can make a noticeable contribution to the yearly total.

#3 Ireland - 9d 14h 10m

In third place, Irish commuters spend 9 days, 14 hours and 10 minutes a year driving to and from work. Much of this time is linked to travel around Dublin, where routes such as the M50 regularly experience heavy traffic, particularly during peak commuting hours.

#4 Greece - 9d 4h 48m

Greece ranks fourth, with drivers spending 9 days, 4 hours and 48 minutes a year commuting by car. Journeys in and around Athens account for a large share of that time, especially on busy routes like Kifissos Avenue and the Attiki Odos ring road, where traffic levels often rise during the working day.

#5 Poland - 8d 21h 36m

Drivers in Poland spend almost 9 full days a year, commuting by car. The majority of this time comes from city travel in places like Warsaw and Kraków, where inbound routes such as the S8 and A4 are part of many daily commutes. Across a full working year, those regular drives add up to one of the higher totals in the ranking.

#6 Netherlands - 8d 19h 26m

Commuters in the Netherlands spend just 8 days, 19 hours and 26 minutes a year driving. While the country is known for its transport infrastructure, car journeys still add up, particularly across the Randstad, which includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Well-used routes like the A4, A2 and A10 often see heavy traffic during rush hour.

#7 Italy - 8d 16h 48m

Italy sits seventh in the ranking, with drivers spending 8 days, 16 hours and 48 minutes a year commuting by car. In cities such as Rome and Milan, daily driving often involves busy roads, including the GRA ring road and Milan's Tangenziale, where congestion can extend travel times throughout the week.

#8 New Zealand - 8d 16h 34m

Just behind Italy, New Zealand records a similar level of commuting time. A large proportion of this comes from travel in and around Auckland, where routes like the Southern Motorway (SH1) and Harbour Bridge approaches are heavily used during peak commuting periods.

#9 Germany - 8d 9h 36m

Germany ranks ninth, with drivers spending 8 days, 9 hours 36 minutes a year commuting by car. Around cities such as Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, key commuter routes can become crowded. While the Autobahn is known for fast stretches, congestion around major junctions on routes like the A3, A8 and A9 are likely to contribute to longer overall driving times.

#10 Canada - 8d 0h 29m

Rounding out the top ten, Canadian drivers spend 8 days and 29 minutes a year commuting. In large metropolitan areas like Toronto and Vancouver, traffic can extend daily journeys, with roads such as Highway 401 and the Gardiner Expressway frequently slowing during busy periods. Across the year, those delays steadily add to the total time spent behind the wheel.

The World's Commuter Stress Levels

A commute isn't just about minutes on the clock it's also about how those minutes feel. In some countries, driving to work is more often described as a calm, enjoyable part of the day. In others, it's something people brace themselves for, mentally and physically.

Top five

Countries that find commuting relaxing

Rank Country % Of Commuters Who Find The Journey Relaxing
#1 South Africa 72%
#2 USA 57%
#3 New Zealand 55%
#4 Germany 54%
#5 Netherlands 53%

South Africa leads by a long way, with nearly three in four drivers (72%) saying their commute feels relaxing, the highest share in the study.

The USA follows at 57%, where more than half of drivers describe their commute as a low-stress part of their day. New Zealand follows at 55%, with Germany (54%) and the Netherlands (53%) close behind. In these countries, time spent behind the wheel often doubles as a time to decompress.

Top five

Countries that find commuting stressful

Rank Country % Of Commuters Who Find The Journey Stressful
#1 India 34%
#2 Greece 30%
#3 Mexico 29%
#4 Italy 26%
#5 UK 22%

At the other end of the scale, the mood shifts. India ranks highest for commute stress, with 34% of drivers describing their daily journey as stressful.

Greece is next at 30%, with Mexico close behind at 29%. Italy (26%) and the UK (22%) complete the top five. In these countries, commuting tends to come with more tension, turning the daily drive into one of the tougher parts of the working routine.

What The World Enjoys About Commuting

For many commuters, the daily drive isn't something to tolerate, it's something they actually enjoy. On average, 53% of drivers say they enjoy their commute, while around one in five (21%) say they don't.

South Africa comes out as the most positive overall, with 81% saying they enjoy commuting by car. At the other end of the spectrum, only 42% of drivers in Ireland enjoy the commute, and nearly a third (32%) say they don't.

What drivers enjoy most about commuting by car

Rank Most enjoyed part of a car commute % Global Commuter Average
#1 Listening to music, podcast or audiobook 82%
#2 Time alone 47%
#3 Driving itself 32%
#4 Scenery 17%

So, what makes a commute in your car most enjoyable? Across every country we surveyed, one answer came out on top: listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks. It's the most popular part of the drive by a wide margin, chosen by 82% on average.

After that, many people value the commute as a pocket of time alone (47%). Fewer say the scenery is the best part (17%), while about a third (32%) simply enjoy driving itself.

Some countries stand out for what they value most. France and the Netherlands are joint-highest for enjoying “time alone” (both 58%), with the USA close behind (57%). When it comes to enjoying the act of driving, Poland leads (53%), followed by India (49%) and the Netherlands (45%). Portugal and Spain also rank highly here, with 42% in both countries saying driving itself is the best part of their commute.

What The World Dislikes About Commuting By Car

When it comes to what commuters don't enjoy, traffic congestion is the clear global frustration, with 84% on average naming it as the worst part of commuting and it ranks as the top complaint in every country we surveyed.

The intensity of that frustration is especially high in India (94%), South Africa (92%), and Portugal (91%), with Mexico (89%) close behind.

Beyond gridlock, it's the behaviour of other drivers that tends to get under people's skin. Bad driver behaviour is cited by 70% globally as a major dislike, with the highest levels of frustration coming from the UK and the Netherlands (both 76%), followed by France (74%), Germany (73%), and Canada (73%).

Where in the World Cars Are Most & Least Reliable

Commute stress doesn't just come from traffic, it often starts with the car itself. Globally, half of all drivers (51%) experienced some kind of car issue in the past year that affected their commute, meaning only 49% made it through the year without disruption.

In practical terms, that means one in two commuters is dealing not just with traffic, but with the risk of breakdowns or mechanical faults shaping their daily drive.

Countries with the most reliable car commutes

Rank Country % Commuters Reporting No Car Issues
#1 Netherlands 68%
#2 New Zealand 66%
#3 USA 63%
#=4 UK 61%
#=4 Australia 61%
#=4 Germany 61%

The Netherlands stands out as the most reliable place to commute by car, with 68% of drivers reporting no car issues over the past year. New Zealand follows closely at 66%, with the USA next at 63%. The UK, Australia and Germany also perform well, all tied at 61%, suggesting a more consistent commute experience for many drivers in these countries.

Top five

Countries where car faults disrupt commutes most often

Rank Country % Commuters Reporting A Car Fault Affecting Their Commute (Last Year)
#1 South Africa 84%
#2 India 78%
#3 Mexico 66%
#4 Poland 63%
#5 Italy 60%

At the other end of the scale, reliability is a far bigger concern. South Africa stands out, with 84% of drivers saying they experienced a car fault that affected their commute in the last year. India follows at 78%, with Mexico (66%), Poland (63%) and Italy (60%) also showing high levels of disruption. For many commuters in these markets, reliability issues add another layer of pressure on top of already time-consuming journeys.

For drivers facing regular disruption, it highlights why some commuters consider buying, selling or leasing a newer car, where features like improved reliability, driver-assistance systems and connected tech can help make everyday commuting feel more manageable, even when traffic itself hasn't improved.

Top five

Where in the World Commutes Feel Most Productive

Rank Country % Drivers Saying Their Commute Feels Productive
#1 South Africa 94%
#2 India 93%
#3 Greece 77%
#4 Mexico 76%
#=5 Portugal 73%
#=5 Italy 73%

Commuting doesn't just affect your schedule; it can set the tone for the whole day. In our survey, 30% of drivers said their commute to work feels draining, highlighting how the routine task can shape our mindset.

While this is the case, there is also a desire to make better use of this time, with 65% on average saying they'd like their commute to feel more productive.

Some countries report especially strong results when it comes to productive commutes. South Africa ranks highest overall, with 94% saying their commute helps them feel productive in some way, the top figure in the study. India is close behind at 93%. Greece (77%) and Mexico (76%) follow, with Portugal and Italy tied on 73%.

The Cars the World Commutes In

The car itself plays a major role in how a commute feels day to day. Globally, 65% of drivers say a newer or different car would make their commute more enjoyable or less stressful.

When asked what would most improve their commuting experience, in-car technology comes out on top, chosen by 58%, ahead of more comfortable seats (50%) and better fuel efficiency (49%). Electric power is selected by 23%, showing growing but still more limited interest.

Features drivers say would improve their commute

What features would make your commute better? % Commuters Selecting This Feature
Improved tech 58%
More comfortable seats 50%
Better fuel efficiency 49%
Electric power (EV) 23%

Demand for improved in-car tech is highest in South Africa (74%), followed by Greece (67%) and India (66%), with Germany and Italy close behind on 63%. When it comes to more comfortable seats, India leads again at 72%, with Ireland next (58%) and the USA and Australia level on 55%.

Countries where commuters are most unhappy with their car

Rank Country % Commuters Who Say They Are Dissatisfied
With Their Current Car
#1 Greece 18%
#2 Italy 16%
#3 France 16%
#4 UK 13%

Greece tops the list for dissatisfaction, with 18% of drivers unhappy with their current car, followed by Italy (16%), France (14%) and the UK (13%). In places like these, it's no surprise more commuters might be looking at selling your car, especially if a newer model offers better tech, more comfort and improved efficiency to make the daily drive easier.

How Much the UK Spends on Commuting

How much does your commute cost you in fuel on an average week? % of UK Drivers
£5-£10 20%
£10-£20 42%
£20-£50 27%
£50-£100 7%
£100+ 0%

In the UK, the daily commute comes with a running fuel bill. The biggest group (42%) say they usually spend £10-£20 a week getting to work and back. Another 27% put their weekly spend at £20-£50, which means for plenty of commuters it's more than small change once it's added up across a month, and equates to around £1,820 per year.

Spending is lower for some: 20% say they pay £5-£10 a week, and just 7% spend £50-£100. Nobody we surveyed reported spending more than £100 a week. Overall, while costs vary, most UK drivers fall into a fairly steady weekly pattern, with what they pay shaped mainly by how far they travel and how much fuel their car uses.

Does your commute have upgrade potential?

Commuting isn't only about distance, it's about how the journey feels day after day. Stress, congestion and vehicle reliability issues can quickly turn routine driving into a drain, while small comforts (and good in-car tech) can make the same trip feel far more manageable.

If you're considering a change, it may be worth looking at whether your current car is helping or hindering your commute. Selling your car for a newer model won't fix the roads, but improved comfort, efficiency and modern features can make the drive to work feel noticeably easier.

Methodology

Using global consumer research platform Prolific, Autotrader surveyed car commuters across 17 countries in 2025 to understand global commuting habits. Respondents were asked about their daily car commute time, how stressful or relaxing they find commuting, what they enjoy and dislike about the journey, and how reliable their car is during regular travel. Results are shown as national averages, and all data is correct as of December 2025.